Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Pat McFadden and Desmond Swayne

Thursday 6th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Pat McFadden]

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for the work that he did on public sector productivity. It was probably essential given that in the eight years between 2016 and 2024 the previous Government employed an extra 131,000 civil servants, so it is quite right that we look at the productivity for the extra employment sanctioned by the last Government.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Does the Minister have an appetite for a policy of like-for-like retaliation when a cyber-attack by a hostile state is confirmed?

[Pat McFadden]

I have both appetite and full faith in our excellent intelligence and security services, who protect us every day.